Jumping Clinic With George Mortis
Practical Horseman|September 2017

Clean is What Horse-Keeping is All About.

George H. Morris
Jumping Clinic With George Mortis

 

1 Our first rider needs to fix some basic problems with her leg and release. Regarding her leg, she is standing on the ball of her foot, which pushes her toes down, causing her heel to go up. This makes her seat go up so she is jumping ahead. She needs to shorten her stirrup leather a half or entire hole and work in two-point on the flat at walk, trot and canter and over crossrails, driving weight into her heel. This will improve her base of support, giving her a secure position.

What also is causing her to jump ahead is that she is not releasing her horse. She is trying to follow his motion with her upper body instead of her hands, which she has incorrectly set just in front of the withers. She is hitting her horse in the mouth and unintentionally punishing him for jumping. She also could fall off if he stops. As she works over crossrails in two-point, she needs to practice moving her hands halfway up her horse’s neck in a long release and waiting with her upper body. She needs to wait for the horse’s thrust to throw her seat out of it just a little, allowing the knee angle to open and the hip angle to close. Her posture is good and her eyes are looking ahead.

This horse is quite a saint because even though the rider is restricting his mouth, his ears are pricked forward and he’s looking for the next fence. Though his knees are symmetrical, below them he’s very loose and uneven, so I don’t love his front end. He’s also jumping flat because he can’t use his head and neck.

Though the horse’s weight is all right, he could be groomed better to get some of the hair off and to give his coat more of a gleam. His mane needs to be pulled and trained to lie flat on one side. The tack looks like it could be cleaned and oiled. The saddle pad fits nicely and the rider’s clothes are clean and well-fitting, though I’d like the same attention on the horse’s turnout.

This story is from the September 2017 edition of Practical Horseman.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2017 edition of Practical Horseman.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM PRACTICAL HORSEMANView All
Winning a Day With Wofford and White
Practical Horseman

Winning a Day With Wofford and White

Contest winner Liza Green and nine friends spent the day learning from renowned eventers Jim Wofford and Sharon White in a uniquely formatted clinic.

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 2016
Practical Horseman

Cross Country With Jim Wofford

Silverbacks Of The SportThe great eventers of the past still speak to us. 

time-read
7 mins  |
August 2017
Practical Horseman

Educating The Next Generation

The Maplewood Horse Industry Training Program is schooling future horsemen one day at a time through its two-year course.

time-read
9 mins  |
August 2017
Practical Horseman

My Life

Competing Against Cancer By Monica Oliver

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2017
Making Their Horses — And Their Mark
Practical Horseman

Making Their Horses — And Their Mark

Show-jumping partners Enrique Gonzalez and Eduardo Menezes hone their craft for identifying and developing talented young horses while ascending the sport’s international rankings.

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 2017
Ride Your Hunter Round Like A Pro
Practical Horseman

Ride Your Hunter Round Like A Pro

Wow the judge with this top hunter rider and judge’s show-ring tips. Part 2: Practice track-riding skills and finish each round on a good note.

time-read
6 mins  |
March 2017
Leg Before Rein
Practical Horseman

Leg Before Rein

Learn this grand prix jumper’s cure for the most common rider fault.

time-read
7 mins  |
January 2017
Win A Day With Boyd Martin
Practical Horseman

Win A Day With Boyd Martin

Solidifying rider positions and focusing on rhythm and balance were key points during this Olympic eventer’s clinic for a contest winner and her friends.

time-read
10+ mins  |
January 2017
Practical Horseman

Show-Jumping Warm-up Strategies That Work

Eventer Buck Davidson and the U.S. Eventing Team’s Show Jumping Coach Silvio Mazzoni share warm-up tips.

time-read
10+ mins  |
February 2017
confessions of a nitpicker
practical horseman

confessions of a nitpicker

bill steinkraus, 1968 olympic individual gold medalist, describes five equestrian terms that rankle him.

time-read
3 mins  |
february 2017